Brandon Smith (Redwoodtwig)

15.2 Little Grove

An initial planting about 15 years ago of river birches at one end, a japanese maple, some witch hazel and myrtle. Also some echinacea that got shaded out by the fairly rapid growth of volunteer oaks, persimmons and cedar. The japanese maple I had bought at a nursery but by the second or third year the graft had failed and now it's just a regular maple.

The oaks in the center are being grafted to form a platform in another 10 years or so. As close to the house as this grouping is means probably ought to think through this guild and get something in here with something edible on it.

The area gets good morning and afternoon sun, but in the middle of the day has quite a bit of shade cast on it by the big oak south of it.

What a pleasant surprise! Yesterday it looked like they were dying and today, after one and a half days of sunshine, look at them! I should probably move them, but first I think I'll harvest the red cedar that is directly south of them.

This is the fate that awaits a sun lover who has been overtopped by oaks, persimmons and black locust.
They are seeking light toward the north east since that is the only direction not fully shaded during most of the day. In additon, the weather has been overcast for several days prior.

The little grove features several oaks in the canopy, with a maple and some river birches at the north end and a few black locust and persimmons in the middle. The next layer down in witch hazel and crepe mytrle, and coming up under them is some sumac, a cedar, and, at one time, some echinacea.

This area was initially planted with some river birch, a japanese maple, witch hazel and myrtle, and some Echinacea. Oaks, persimmons and blacklocust quickly volunteered themselves and are also happy. Working on grafting some of the oaks inside. The echinacea got shaded out after a few years, the japanese maple turned out to be a graft and the graft died so now it's a regular maple, much deformed by several attempts to cut it down.

This area was initially planted with some river birch, a japanese maple, witch hazel and myrtle, and some Echinechia. Oaks, persimmons and blacklocust quickly volunteered themselves and are also happy. Working on grafting some of the oaks inside.

This area was initially planted with some river birch, a japanese maple, witch hazel and myrtle, and some Echinechia. Oaks, persimmons and blacklocust quickly volunteered themselves and are also happy. Working on grafting some of the oaks inside.

This area was initially planted with some river birch, a japanese maple, witch hazel and myrtle, and some Echinacea. Oaks, persimmons and blacklocust quickly volunteered themselves and are also happy. Working on grafting some of the oaks inside. The echinacea got shaded out after a few years, the japanese maple turned out to be a graft and the graft died so now it's a regular maple, much deformed by several attempts to cut it down.

The myrtle is sprouting heavily from the base this year, I did notice the flowering was not that much this spring. Perhaps needs to be cut back? But check around and see what else is taking its light and water.

This area was initially planted with some river birch, a japanese maple, witch hazel and myrtle, and some Echinechia. Oaks, persimmons and blacklocust quickly volunteered themselves and are also happy. Working on grafting some of the oaks inside.

This area was initially planted with some river birch, a japanese maple, witch hazel and myrtle, and some Echinechia. Oaks, persimmons and blacklocust quickly volunteered themselves and are also happy. Working on grafting some of the oaks inside.